Compare towns
Java vs Brasher Falls vs Machias vs Arcade
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New York.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Java has the highest household income ($95k).
Brasher Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.7%).
Machias has the most affordable homes ($89k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Java | Brasher Falls | Machias | Arcade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,049 |
776Lowest |
2,290 |
4,210Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NY: +4.2% |
+0.7%Highest NY: +4.2% |
-2.7% NY: +4.2% |
-0.4% NY: +4.2% |
| Median age | 44.2±5.5Lowest 11% above NY |
49.3±18.7 24% above NY |
49.7±7.6Highest 25% above NY |
46±3.7 16% above NY |
| Machias and Brasher Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±4.7Highest NY: 20.5% |
14.9%±7.4Lowest NY: 20.5% |
17.9%±3.7 NY: 20.5% |
16.3%±3.2 NY: 20.5% |
| Java and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±3.6 NY: 17.9% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest NY: 17.9% |
24.6%±3.4Highest NY: 17.9% |
21.5%±3.8 NY: 17.9% |
| Machias and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.6%Highest NY: 40.2% |
9.9%Lowest NY: 40.2% |
12.1% NY: 40.2% |
23.6% NY: 40.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.4 NY: 7% |
10.1%±6.7Highest NY: 7% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NY: 7% |
5.6%±3.1 NY: 7% |
| Brasher Falls and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,129±$24kHighest 11% above NY |
$52,868±$35kLowest 39% below NY |
$59,485±$19k 31% below NY |
$62,011±$8k 28% below NY |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $223,900±$30kHighest 47% below NY |
$98,000±$43k 77% below NY |
$89,200±$13kLowest 79% below NY |
$163,900±$15k 61% below NY |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $863±$419 47% below NY |
$416±$387Lowest 74% below NY |
$1,018±$112Highest 37% below NY |
$813±$152 50% below NY |
| Machias and Java are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,775 43% below NY |
$2,488 62% below NY |
$2,089Lowest 68% below NY |
$4,172Highest 37% below NY |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 2.5%±61.4Lowest NY: 52.1% |
75.4%±34.7Highest NY: 52.1% |
21.4%±12.1 NY: 52.1% |
40.4%±13.5 NY: 52.1% |
| Brasher Falls and Arcade are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NY: 14% |
13.2% NY: 14% |
20.1%Highest NY: 14% |
11.4% NY: 14% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.2%Highest NY: 54.3% |
60.2%Lowest NY: 54.3% |
76.2% NY: 54.3% |
73.6% NY: 54.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1956Lowest 3 yrs older than NY |
1965 6 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
1977Highest 18 yrs newer than NY |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 17% below NY |
19 minLowest 43% below NY |
24 min 27% below NY |
29 minHighest 10% below NY |
| Work from home | 9%±4.4Highest NY: 14.9% |
1.4%±2.7Lowest NY: 14.9% |
6.2%±4.8 NY: 14.9% |
6.1%±3 NY: 14.9% |
| Java and Machias are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #260 of 484 in NY |
| School district | — | — | — | YORKSHIRE-PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT |
| High school in town | — | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NY average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.